The Sauce: Albo’s secret dinners at Kirribilli House for leftie party officials

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been hosting secret dinners at Kirribilli House — see who’s been on the guest list in this week’s The Sauce.

It’s not easy being in the Labor left – ask Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Often bullied and looked down upon by the dominant right faction, lefties have little option but to band together.

Wanting to show his factional operatives some love, The Sauce can reveal Albo has been inviting past and present left-wing party officials over for dinner at Kirribilli House.

So secret at the meet-ups – we believe there have been at least two – that senior right-wingers were surprised to learn of the “Kirribilli club” when we began making inquiries.

As for the guest list, our investigations reveal it comprises former NSW Labor left assistant general secretaries, a position Albo himself held from 1989 to 1995 under former Senator Stephen Loosely and then John Della Bosca.

The elegant Kirribilli House is a far more salubrious venue than the Chinese eatery the group used to meet at. Picture: Supplied

Former Keating government minister John Faulkner — who held the assistant gig just prior Albo — is on the list, along with former Labor leader Luke Foley, NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson and Special Minister of State John Graham.

Damien O’Connor — a former assistant general secretary — and George Simon, who holds the role now, are also on the list.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a former left-wing party official

Few were keen to speak on the matter, although one reminded us that holding the role of a left-faction assistant general secretary was often a fraught experience that only others who had been in the job understood — hence the exclusive membership.

“It is a shit job,” one said. “Historically, we were bullied by the right. You are completely isolated.

“You only get it if you’ve done it.”

Prior to Albo taking on the top job, we were told, the dinners used to happen in more downtown venues such as a local Sussex Street Chinese restaurant.

AN ACCOMMODATING MP

Ministers often come under fire for choosing to stay in luxury hotels on the public purse.

But scanning the latest ministerial travel documents of the Minns government, one pollie came to our attention for another reason.

Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison features prominently in the latest travel documents for January to March this year.

But her total travel bill is modest, thanks to her love of an old school motor inn.

Among those Aitchison has listed are the Bega Downs Motor Inn, Comfort Inn Bishops Lodge, Country Manor Motor Inn Nyngan, Club Motel Tumbarumba and the Aastro Dish Motor Inn Parkes.

Aitchison’s most luxurious hotel was the four-star Rydges South Bank at $200 a night.

The most expensive travel bill was accrued by Sports Minister Steve Kamper, whose week in Las Vegas with the NRL cost more than $15,000, including $1451 for accommodation at the MGM Luxor Hotel & Casino.

In total, ministers spent more than $170,000 on planes, cars and hotels in the first three months of this year.

WRONG ADDRESS

With the median price for a house in Rose Bay hovering around the $5.7 million mark, eyebrows have been raised at the decision by the Liberals to host a housing crisis forum in the affluent suburb.

The $10-a-ticket event is being hosted by the Wentworth Liberals, who are vying to reclaim the old prized blue-ribbon seat they lost to “teal” independent Allegra Spender at the 2022 federal election.

Rose Bay was chosen because it sits within the seat,and while one Lib acknowledged it to be an affluent suburb, The Sauce was also reminded about its large number of renters.

Those listed to speak at the Sunday event include opposition home ownership spokesman, Senator Andrew Bragg, state opposition housing spokesman Scott Farlow and Randwick City councillor Christie Hamilton.

Also listed is the endorsed Liberal candidate for Wentworth, Ro Knox.

DON’S PARTY

The who’s who of Sydney Liberals turned out to celebrate the 60th birthday of NSW Liberal Party president Don Harwin.

The former arts minister shouted almost 50 close family and friends to a performance of Dracula at the Sydney Theatre Company.

Former arts minister Don Harwin really sank his teeth into celebrating his 60th birthday. Picture: David Swift

Among those to attend were former US ambassador Joe Hockey and his wife, investment banker Melissa Babbage, and ex-arts minister Paul Fletcher and his wife, jewellery designer Manuela Zappacosta.

Liberal MPs Chris Rath and Mark Coure and former moderate powerbrokers Shayne Mallard and Trent Zimmerman were also there for the blood tasting, along with Harwin’s 86-year-old mother Evelyn.

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Originally published as The Sauce: Albo’s secret dinners at Kirribilli House for leftie party officials